JohnWPB 1986 GT Fastback worklog (Page 26/71)
VikingRedBaron APR 16, 07:43 AM

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Originally posted by JohnWPB:




Looks to me like you need a set of jack stands, and learn how to use them as well
JohnWPB APR 16, 05:01 PM

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Originally posted by VikingRedBaron:
Looks to me like you need a set of jack stands, and learn how to use them as well



No, I need to get a set of jack stands. However, what you do not see is the tire laying under the drivers floor board "in case of emergency". Anyhow, I am not getting under the car in ANY way with just painting the caliper.
fierogtlt1 APR 17, 02:51 AM

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Originally posted by JohnWPB:

I then let it dry and then painted the area with the high temperature caliper paint, and then the bed liner on the wheel wells. I didn't really have to mask anything off for the black. When it came to the blue, I started to mask things off that I had just painted black. I wasn't about to go to the trouble of removing the brake calipers just to paint them blue


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I did not worry about what the shocks look like, as I will be replacing them with new ones very soon. Starting to look pretty good. Not the perfect shade of blue I wanted, but there are not too many choices when it comes to high temperature caliper paint:


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After it dried a bit, I put the wheel back on. One down, 3 to go!


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Now to get a new control arm, ends and such and work all of that out..... it never ends!



What was the color of the blue called that you used ?
Csjag APR 17, 08:37 AM
If you replace the ball joints yourself please let us know how it goes. I have been wondering if its a job I could do myself on my 85's considering I have never done suspension work before. Thanks
exoticse APR 18, 09:09 PM

John,

Check your email and or PM.

Thanks
Tony
1984whitesc APR 20, 10:45 PM

quote
Originally posted by Csjag:

If you replace the ball joints yourself please let us know how it goes. I have been wondering if its a job I could do myself on my 85's considering I have never done suspension work before. Thanks


Replacing the ball joints isn't too bad of a job, that is if it's not too rusty. I just ground off the weld, just a BIG hammer, and smacked the old one out. Then I just used a ball joint press tool to set the new one in place making sure it was going it straight.

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1984 White Fiero Sport Coupe (Juliet) in restoration
http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/089093.html
1988 Red Fiero Standard Coupe (Bella) in restoration
1990 Black Buick Reatta (Noir)
2002 White Chevy Impala base(Haylie)

JohnWPB MAY 20, 11:41 PM
Well I started to tackle the suspension over the weekend, just spent a few hours o n it really. I do plan to do more this upcoming weekend. I have just about everything new for the suspension minus the rear struts.

I changed out the front shocks, and have not even swapped cars around to take it out for a test drive yet! I really want to replace the Tie Rod, the steering stabilizer shock and a couple more things first, so the difference should be quite noticeable. That's the hope anyways!

I have been in older cars before, but man this one just feels terrible. It rattles, the steering is terrible, feeling loose and worn out. Overall, it just feels really old. Looking at the rubber between all the suspension parts shows why. They have all deteriorated, dry rotted and worn out.

I went with Gabriel shocks on the front, and will go with their struts on the rear when I get around to the back of the car.
fierogtlt1 MAY 21, 12:24 AM
It's good to see that you are back at it.
JohnWPB JUN 18, 02:57 PM
I had purchased all new side markers and full smooth molding for my Fiero from the Fiero Store. I had left them there to be painted satin black when I had the car painted. I dropped of with the car and have been going back and forth with Maaco for months, about them. Calling and them saying they had not painted them yet, turning into they are scheduled for next week, then into "what moldings?".

I contacted the corporate office, and they said they had contacted the store, and to go there when I had a chance. I stopped by this afternoon, and it was if they were expecting me. The entire staff was fired, including the manager since the last time I was there from what they told me. There was a man from the corporate offices, and he was very nice, and said he will replace all of the moldings for me. He asked how the paint job was, and we walked out and I showed him the problems with it. A couple blemishes in the spoiler, and one on the front right fender, and the chip in the hood. I also showed him where the door jams were painted before the rest of the car, and then when it was primed and painted, it went into all of the areas in the trunk, hood and door jams. This left all of these areas the texture of 120 grit sandpaper.

When we went back inside and pulled the paperwork, the color code that they had painted the car was not on the paperwork, nor was there mention of all of the extra's I paid for, the door jams, trunk and under hood to be painted, as well as repair of the lip above the tail lights. Also when they were looking to lift the roof a bit to paint the seam between the roof and the rear clip, they lifted a bit too far and cracked the area just at the top of the "A" pillar. The had repaired it, but badly, and it could still be seen.

He did not want to have to repaint the door jams, under the hood and such, as it was all not on the paperwork, and he insisted that I had those areas painted some where else! I had to pull up photo's on my tablet to show him pictures, in this very shop, where they were working on the door jams. He agreed, but was giving me trouble about the trunk and hood, so the tablet to the rescue again to prove that they were painted here.

They looked through a bunch of paint chips, and they are 80% sure we found the color that the car was painted. This was not the color I wanted, but one that they gave me. Thats another long story.... Just to play it safe though, and not have mismatched paint, he told me they were going to sand and respray the whole car! I was pleasantly surprised that he even said that! He said he will do whatever it takes to make sure I am satisfied. I wonder..... just how hard did corporate come down on this store! LOL! Well whatever they said, I am just happy to get what I paid for in the first place

So I am to drop it off next Monday morning and see how it goes!

[This message has been edited by JohnWPB (edited 08-07-2014).]

TXOPIE JUN 18, 03:41 PM
VICTORY FOR THE CONSUMER!

God I love hearing stories like this...don't understand why some shops act and run that way!